We are the most technically advanced nation in the free world but yet we have not been able to reduce the number of firefighter fatalities over the years. Its one of the great mysteries of the world today. Our gear is better than what they wore thirty years ago, its better than what they wore ten years ago and we still lose an average of one hundred firefighters every year. I know that not all are dying in structure fires but just one is one too many.

Today we have many of our guys who like to push the envelop. Our gear is the best and it will protect us in any kind of conditions. But is still has limits. You may be protected from the heat and fire to an extent but you can only go as far as the SCBA will let you. You are going to run out of air sooner or later. Years ago the firefighters that come from what I like to call the old school didn’t wear nomex hoods. They were told when your ears start burning your in too deep and its time to back up. We wear the hoods now and cover every squared inch of our body and we don’t know when we have gone too far. We are sufficiently covered up like a cocoon and we get our self into environment we shouldn’t be. But our gear won’t let us down it’s the best. Training I feel is very lacking in the fire service today. I had more of what I call fire suppression training in my rookie school than I have had in the last seven years that I have been a firefighter. Now I’m not saying its wrong and that we should do away with it but we do a lot of life safety education today and not any fire suppression training. We do a lot of “table top” exercises and not a lot of actual “live burn” training. Our area is currently on water restrictions. So when citizens can’t water their lawns or wash their cars we can’t flow water and have “live burn” exercises. We don’t want to hear the citizens complain about us “wasting” water while they have a dirty car and their shrubs are dying. Incident command is...

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...Fire Safety
On a cold summers night the fire department received a two-alarm house fire. When the first-in engine arrived on the scene they reported heavy smoke and flames visible from the exterior. Others units then arrived on the scene to help battle the blaze that destroyed the two-story house. Thankfully, no one was injured. Fire investigators determined the cause of the blaze was a candle that has been left burning unattended while the homeowners left the house. Accidents like this are the reason for fire safety awareness. Fire safety is an essential part of education for both the public and firefighters that has proven to decrease the risk of accidental fires and fire related deaths.
The history of the fire service dates back to the early days of history. The service has evolved dramatically from the beginning. The first records of the fire service were recorded when a firefighting force emerged “during the rule of the roman empire” (Lincolnshire 1). The first try of using a fire brigade didn’t work as planned as nearly a quarter of Rome went up in smoke under rule of emperor Augustus. The first fire brigade used slaves to attempt to put out the raging fires. Later “Britain got its first organized fire brigade in 43 AD when the Romans invaded. After they left Britain’s first fire brigade disbanded” (Lincolnshire 1). At these early times in history people begin to realize the need for a fire...

...Edward Godinez
Class 15
Squad 6
1 April 2013
Give Clear Instructions and Be Sure They Are Understood
Wildland firefighters courageously face tremendous peril with each fire they extinguish. There have been many fatalities of good, hard workers who were just doing their job. Deaths can be averted however, if every member of every crew follows The Ten Standard Firefighting Orders and The Eighteen Watchout Situations. These two lists of commands and warnings were developed by a task force in nineteen fifty seven to prevent any casualties during fighting of wildland fires. They are modeled in part by general orders followed by the United States Armed Forces and the research of sixteen tragedy fires. If always followed correctly and memorized, danger can be avoided to a certain extent. Today I’m going to talk about Standard Firefighting Order number eight, “Give clear instructions and be sure they are understood.”
In a position of power or leadership, there are several reasons why it is important to always give clear instructions and be sure they are understood such as: the prevention of injury, the prevention of death, productivity, ethics, accountability, general order, and even the common pride of fulfilling duty. At some point in his or her career, each fire fighter will eventually experience some role of leadership, whether that be an actual appointed position or a temporary need for initiative in the absence of a figure of guidance. It is important...

...could. It is a dream of mine to become a firefighter in all sense of the word. I enjoy the thought of risk taking and even helping people, which is why I think that this profession would be just right for me. Ever since I was about 11 years old, and my house had caught fire, had I wanted to be a firefighter. Just watching all of those skilled firefighters mesmerized me. They had such precision and knew exactly what to do in what seemed every situation that would be thrown at them. I feel as though this is their personality and traits added to this accuracy at being so good at what they do. I also have quick reflexes, good stamina, and I tend to think of myself as a fast and logical thinking, just as they all were. I chose this career not only for my liking to it, but also because of the growth in the profession. Firefighting is a field that has potential for growth in the coming years, the education, requirements, and dedication are all equally important to this extremely dangerous, yet exciting job.
Firefighting is one of the most dangerous jobs out in the occupation world today. Summed up as a whole, firefighters are trained to fight fires, rescue people in need and provide medical services for humans and animals. There are many steps needed to prepare to be a firefighter. Your characteristics and personality play a big role in choosing this career. Being outgoing and a people person will help...

...Why Become a Firefighter?
Fall 2012
Abstract
I. Based on different sources, interviews, and opinions, the following paper explores the job of a firefighter. It includes the specifications for becoming a firefighter; in addition to what they face every day. Finally the research paper concludes why to become a firefighter, and how important a job of a firefighter is.
Outline
1. Why become a firefighter?
a. It is a respected profession which is honored in all counties around the world B. Good job security and benefits
b. You are never going to be bored
c. There is a brotherhood among colleagues exist E. Good opportunities for career growth
II. What do firefighters do? They serve the country, rescue citizens and fight fires.
III. What are the requirements of this job?
d. Become an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
e. Volunteer your time.
f. Take fire technology classes at a local community college
g. maintain a clean background and lifestyle
h. Understand ALL of the phases of the firefighter hiring process
i. Start taking firefighter tests
j. Stop by fire stations
k. Get some life experience
l. Start preparing for your...

...FIPT 103
The Evolution of Firefighter PPE
Firefighter PPE has come a long way since the first days of the volunteer firefighter stations. Most firefighters back then responded to fires in whatever they happened to be wearing at the time whether it be regular clothes or old uniforms from their time in the military. Due to the lack of protection most structures often burned to the ground because firefighters fought the fire from outside and interior operations were simply not possible. With the formation of the NFPA, National Fire Codes provided standards to protect firefighters such as “NFPA 1971 Protective Ensemble for Structural Fire Fighting.” As firefighting technology improved, strategies and tactics became more aggressive. With full head to toe PPE, firefighters can now safely respond to numerous types of emergencies and efficiently do their job.
In the early days of firefighting it would be that the only emergencies that firefighters would respond to is fires, nowadays that is not the case. In fact the majority of a Fire Department’s calls will be medical aids or medical emergencies. It is not likely that full turnout gear is needed to protect the firefighter from medical hazards and to don such PPE would be a waste of time. Standard Precautions are a set of infection control practices used to prevent transmission of diseases that can be...

...In this cynical age, firefighting remains a heroic and noble profession. The images of fire professionals we see on television and in film are often romanticized versions of day-to-day life on the job. What is the life of a firefighter really like?
The Job
According to a 1993 survey, annual starting salaries for firefighters in major cities fall in the range of $28,000 to $46,000 with overtime pay. Firefighters receive health, disability and retirement benefits, and many consider the work schedule beneficial as well (rotating 24-hour shifts). No two days are alike, and the work is as varied as it is unpredictable.
Responding to Calls
Gender and Race in the Urban Fire Service reveals what it's like to enter a burning building. "...those entering a building are often confronted with such intense heat and heavy smoke that it is impossible for them to walk upright or to make out their surroundings. They wear face masks and air tanks to allow them to breathe, but the tanks are heavy, the time limited and the breathing process awkward. The location is almost always completely unfamiliar, filled with obstacles and unknown hazards. While the engine crew works on the ground with water to put the fire out, a truck crew ventilates the building, opening a sufficiently large hole in the roof to allow heat, smoke and gasses to escape so that the ground crew can do its work. Roof work is not only dangerous, but generally requires a high...

...Reducing the Number of Firefighter Fatalities One Heart at A Time
I doubt that anyone would argue with the statement that firefighting is a dangerous occupation. The natural reaction of most is to flee from a burning building, but firefighters are not most people. Firefighters risk their lives on a day-to-day basis rushing to the scene of an emergency, fighting blazing fires, and entering burning buildings; it is hard to believe that the number one cause of line-of-duty deaths is cardiac events (FEMA, 2011).
The fire service is constantly changing and evolving to reduce the number of preventable accidents. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) states, “Through research, study, training, improved operations, development of new technologies, the appropriate use of staffing, and other factors, it should be possible to significantly reduce the number of firefighters killed each year (2012).” Firefighters are no longer allowed to ride on the side or back of the fire truck as a measure of safety to protect them from being thrown from the vehicle. That seems like a common sense idea, but what has the fire service done to address the issue of cardiac arrest? In 2011, nearly sixty percent of firefighter fatalities were related to cardiac emergencies (FEMA, 2012). The fire service is always coming up with new ideas and standards to reduce the number of...

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Various Solutions to Firefighter Food Purchase, Preparation, and Cost Sharing
Name
Institution
Date
Various Solutions to Firefighter Food Purchase, Preparation, and Cost Sharing
Introduction and Background
This research is about the provision of sustainable fire fighting services in a small town in Ohio called Pikering. Pikering has a population of about 8,000 residents and is situated in the rural parts of Southeastern Ohio. It has for over the years relied heavily on volunteers to provide firefighting services in the event of fire breakouts. For the past few years, the pool of volunteers has ranged between 17 and 30 in number. Owing to the few incidences of fire in the town, this small number of volunteers has often responded satisfactorily to save situations in case of fire disasters. Usually, the captain of the team of volunteers makes judgment on how to respond to cases of fore breakouts as communicated to him via telephone calls, through the Sheriff’s office or the City Manager’s office.
In the past decade, the number of volunteers in the firefighting unit of Pikering township of Ohio has been dwindling. This has been occasioned by retirement of old volunteers and increased rural-urban migration of the young, energetic generation. The town has virtually remained with the old people and the very young, and the few youths available are not willing to take on the voluntary fire fighting chore. This...